Ethnopharmacology, Pharmacology and Phytochemistry of Aristolochia bracteolata Lam: A Review of an Antimalarial Plant

Abstract

Malaria remains one of the most common infectious diseases in the sub-Sahara African countries and other developing countries. Among the medicinal plants used in the endemic countries for the treatment of malaria is Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. due to its availability, accessibility, and traditional use. This study therefore reviewed the ethnomedicinal use, pharmacology, and the chemistry of Aristolochia bracteolata. Different electronic databases such as Medline/Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched to identify all published articles on Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. Key search words included ethnopharmacological use, pharmacological and phytochemical parameters of A. bracteolata. Retrieved articles were reviewed and synthesized. In addition, the reference list of retrieved articles was reviewed and articles which were not retrieved by previous search were hand searched. The review included original research articles that has investigated Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. of any study design. Only published original articles, any languages, any time of publish, and grey literature (Conference paper, theses both PhD. and Msc. technical report) were included. Those articles with full text not available, those without information of interest, e.g ethnopharmacology, pharmacology and phytochemistry of A. bracteolata were excluded. Despite having multiple use, the plant is mainly used in the treatment of malaria with a reported antiplasmodial activity. Aristolochic acids (AAs) were reported as the major and active ingredient among other components in the plant. The review revealed that A. bracteolata has various traditional use with promising pharmacological activity. However, information on its safety is limited.